Home Improvement Surges along with Housing Starts

Housing starts are nowhere near their pre-recession highs, or even their pre-recession averages, but starts are up over 153% per month from the lows of 2009. Likewise the S&P 500 Home Improvement Retail Index (made up of companies like Home Depot and Lowe’s) has been surging. Home builder sentiment is also high, with the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index rising this month to its highest level since 2005.